Attachment for retractors.



W. i. CAMERON. ATTACHMENT FOR RETRACTORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1915.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

WILLIAM J. CAMERON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR RETRACTOBS.

Application filed May 28, 1915.

To (ZZZ 11 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. CAMERON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, having declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Beta-actors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to surgical retractors. More particularly stated my device is an attachment for retractors adapted for use by dentists, or mouth and throat specialists, for the purpose of depressing the tongue of a patient or for spacing the fleshy portion of the cheek away fromthe gums and teeth, and for holding absorbent cotton roll close to the gums of the patient. The principal object of my invention is the provision of a suitable attachment that may be readily and quickly secured to a retractor or gag and held in position without the use of set screws or similar locking means. Another object of my invention is to so construct the attachment that when employed by a dentist or other operative it will pro vide a clear working space around the gums and teeth of a patient and at the same time permit of the drainage of saliva therefrom. Other objects are theprovision of an attachment that may be used in a patients mouth without discomfort, is secured to the retractor or without altering the same,

and which is economical to manufacture so that it may be retailed at a moderate price.

I prefer to accomplish these and other objects by the means and in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the tongue depressor roll holder and cheek distender or cotton roll holder for the lower jaw and detached from the retractor.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the cheek distender for the upper jaw and detached from the retractor. Fig. 4 is a tongue depressor for use in throat examination and diagnosis.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4:.

Referring to the drawings, similar ref Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

Serial No. 30,899.

erence characters are employed to indicate the same parts in the several views.

As illustrated 1n the drawings, it will be seen the retraotor or gag preferably comprises a main member 5 of substantially L or U shape and an adjustable member 6 adapted to engage the same and slide longitudinal thereon by means of the inturned lips 7 that provide a guide. The main memher 5 has its arm 8 disposed substantially at right angles thereto and slightly convexed, the end thereof bent over to form a clownward hook 9.

The movable or slidable member 6 has its arm 10 also disposed at substantially right angles to itself and slightly convexed to conform to the shape of the arm 8, while the outer end thereof is bent upwardly, which bend is provided to form a hook 11. In using this device as a mouth gag the hooks are placed against the teeth in the upper and lower jaws and when the jaws are moved apart, the operator will spread the arms away from each other, causing member 6 to slide upon the main member The tendency of the jaws to then come together causes the movable member to shift to one side and frictionally lock the guide 7 upon the member 5. The structure heretofore described is substantially the same as that described and illustrated in Letters Patent No. 955,006 granted to J. E. Sparks, April 12, 1910 for abdominal retractor, whereof I am owner, and to which my improved attachment is adapted to he applied.

Referring first to Fig. 1 in the drawings, wherein the tongue depressor of a simple type is shown, it will be observed the depressor comprises a plate 12 of suitable dimensions and shape that is bent substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 5 of the. drawings. This plate 12 is provided at its upper end with substantially L-shaped retaining lugs 13 that arise from the sides thereof and immediately adjoining said lugs is a portion 1-1 bent in a substantially quadrant shape curve, so that it corresponds with the curvature and fits the hooks 9 and 11 of the mouth gag. The plate is then bent upwardly a slight distance then flat to form a corner 15 in order that, when the instrument is placed in the mouth of the patient, the teeth will rest upon the curved portion 14 and the body of the plate 12 will rest upon and depress the tongue; In order to retain the plate upon the hooks and prevent the same moving too far backward, suitable shoulders 9* and 11 are made upon the edges of the respective hooks.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated a diiferently shaped tongue depressor 16, one longitudinal edge 17 whereof is bent or flared downwardly and upwardly as shown, and adjacent the upper end of plate 16 is a restricted throat 18. One side edge of the throat is turned upwardly to form a rib or flange 19 of substantially segmental shape, and beyond the throat 18 the plate is bent in a curve 20 to conform to the curvature of the hook 9. At its end the sides of the plate is provided with substantially L- shaped lugs 21 for engaging the edges of said hooks when the device is in position. A lateral extension 22 projects from the curved portion 20 of the plate and adjacent its end is provided with an upturned lip 23 that is adapted to contact the gum of the patient,

when the device is inserted in the mouth. The device just described is adapted to be placed :upon the lower hook 9 of the mouth gag, and when placed in the mouth of the patient will forcethe tongue and cheek away from the lingual and labial sides of the gums so as to provide .a clear working space for theoperator.

For :the purpose-of permitting operations in the upper jaw of the patient I have devised the structure illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, which is substantially the same as the extension member 22 illustrated in Fig. 2 with the plate 16.0mitted. A downturned lip 2d at the outer end of the exten- .sion 25 is provided that is bent in the opposite direction to lip 23 so that the device may be used at the labial side of the upper jaw.

The curved portion 20 and the L-shaped lugs 21 are the same as illustrated upon the other attachments heretofore described.

While I have herein illustrated and described certain specific means for carrying out :my invention, it of course, will be obvi- .ous, to others skilled in the art to which it pertains, that various modifications or refinements thereof are possible withoutmateriallydeparting from the spirit of my inven tion. I therefore desire it understood that all such changes are contemplated with the scope of my invention as expressed in the appended claims.

That I claim :as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A surgical retractor comprising arm-s provided with carrying means adjacent their outer ends, means whereby said arms are retained in adjusted positions, and a suitably shaped .plate adapted to cooperate with said carrying means whereby said plate-is removably mounted upon one of said arms.

Gopies n! this patent maybe obtained for 2. A surgical instrument comprising separate arms having hooks upon thelr outer ends, means connecting sa1d arms whereby said arms are retained in adjusted positions,

and a suitably shaped plate removably mounted upon one of said hooks,

3. A surgical instrument comprising separable arms having hooks upon their outer end, means adj ustably connecting-said arms and a suitably shaped plate adapted to be mounted upon one of said hooks and provided with lateral substantially L-shaped lugs that embrace the edges of said hook.

1. A surgical instrument'comprising separable arms having hooks upon their outer ends, means adjustably-connecting said arms, and a suitably shaped plate adapted to be mounted upon one of said hooks, said plate provided with a segmentally curved portion adapted to fit said hook and lateral substantially L-shaped lugs that embrace the edges of said hook.

5. An attachment fora retractor comprising a suitably shaped member, an extended arm disposed adjacent to and along side said member and providing'a space .therebetween, and a restricted throat portion for said member adjacent the point of projection of said arm.

6. An attachment for a retractor comprising a suitably shaped member and extended arm disposed adjacent to and alongside said member and providing a space therebetween, and means whereby said member is mounted upon the retractor consisting of a segmentallycurved portion adjacent one end thereof, and substantially L-shaped lugs adjacent said curved portion.

7. An attachment for a retractor comprising a'suitably shaped member, an extended armdisposed adjacent said member and providing a space therebetween, said arm having a laterally bent lip, and :a restricted throat portion adjacent the point of projection of said arm.

8. A surgical retractor comprising separate arms the ends whereof are suitably shaped, means whereby said'arms are fric .tionally retamed 1n ad usted positions and a plate removably mounted upon theend of one of said :arms.

'9. A surgical retractor comprising two members slidably and frictionally connected together the opposite ends whereof are suitably shaped and a plate removably mounted upon the end of one of said members.

I Signedat Chicago, Cook county,Illinois,- this 26 day of May 1915.

WILLIAM J. CAMERON.

lViunesses:

Bnn J. T. Roonnonsn, M. HAROLD EIGHELMAN.

five cents each, byaddressing the 'ftgo nmissioner of latents,

' Washington, D. g. 

